Klutz's Map Emporium
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Thanks to a lot of help and advice, I managed to finish Frozen Firefight a lot quicker than expected. It's 7.9 MiB on the map vault. Please host games on it so I know how it plays, it should be suitable for everything from 2v2 to 4v4.
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What am I working on this month?
- Decals on Desolation
- Decals on Mangrove Delta
- Lighting on Frozen Firefight
Uploaded
Forest Nothing, requested by Archsimkat based off the AoE map of the same name, a 10x10 map with Crazyrush starts and no mexes but 700k mass reclaim worth of tree groups (recently uploaded v2 which fixes a lag issue)
Works in Progress
Talon Crater, a 5v5 15x15 map aiming for the 2v2 TMM pool
Sketches
Pockmarked Plains, 7.5x7.5, volcanic open map
Rackham Harbour, 5x5, choke + naval map with Loki-style civilian bases
Plastic Isthmus, 7.5x10
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Uploaded:
Adaptive Alpine Valley
10km x 10km with adaptive settings for 1v1 and 2v2, featuring invincible civilians.
(Images taken on v.0001 which does not have the field rock reclaim present on v.0002)
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Lessons learned from Settling Scores
- Just because a map can be played 1v1, doesn't mean you should put it in the pool of a 1v1 tournament
- A delayed map may eventually be good, but a bad map debut is bad forever
- Everyone will dislike a map at first
- Nobody cares how groundbreaking your map is if the gameplay is atrocious
- Stop putting mass spots every 5 metres
- Stickleback should be my new standard going forward
- Don't be afraid to ask for help from pros
- Not map related, but $100 for hours of content for hundreds of people is actually a pretty good deal
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have you fixed that alpine valley pathing ?
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Yes! Arch did a very good job of chasing me up on that.
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Uploaded:
Auburn Canyon
7.5 km x 7.5 km 1v1, featuring usage of some of the new props, is now on the map vault with 50% finished decals and is eagerly awaiting playtesting.
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Just thought this looked nice.
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pink ones just look like weir candy that have fallen on a weird green table, doesn't feel like bushes or trees.
The orange ones are nice -
Floralis
5km x 5km 1v1, featuring more of the new props. Mostly finished. Uploaded and eagerly awaiting playtesting.
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You're doing gods work Captain.
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Tamara Pass
10km x 10km 2v2. Going back to basics with this one. Very unlike me to upload a map that actually has finished decals, but there you go, I guess I'm growing. Thanks to Arch and Jip for lots of help on this one.
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Wow, Capitan realy wonderfull work...the map pleases the eye
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Amazing work dude. Really wish I knew how to do this but I am glad you do. Just incredible.
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maybe i should make a quick tutorial
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@captainklutz Yes, tutorials are always good
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@CaptainKlutz if you want to make any mapping videos let me know and possibly get them linked to the FAF youtube or can upload them with credit to you ?
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Want to post it here now I've been asked about it a couple of times- I am open to the idea of commissions. A 10x10 map for me takes anywhere between 8-16 hours from start to finish, and if we go for a generous €10/hour, that works out to easily over a hundred for a 10x10 map. However, this assumes I'm doing it from scratch. It would depend on each case, but I'm willing to discount if given clear directions and sketches. Or, I might just like the idea so much that I'll do it for free, like I did with Astral Craters and Forest Nothing.
In any case, I like hearing ideas, so don't hesitate to talk to me about any you might have.
I also won't stop making maps for free. The inspiration just comes and goes, and now the leaves have fallen from the trees I'm lacking it. But seeing as I have 3 maps in the matchmaking pools right now, I expect replays on those will be nice to watch. Thanks to everyone who's been staying tuned and continues to help and encourage me. I wouldn't be able to be where I am without you.
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Mangrove Delta and Frozen Firefight are some of my favorite maps in the TMM map pool. Thanks for making these awesome creations!
My only tiny suggestion of improvement: I find it often hard to read which parts of the map are passable, and which ones aren't (I hate Adaptive Moon for this reason). Frozen Firefight suffers a similar issue with a hill-like looking texture on one of the islands. It can be seen in the top left of this image:
To me, this visually looks like a mountain, particularly when only glossed over from a top-down perspective in the heat of a hectic battle. It doesn't help that the actual mountains on this map have the same color theme as this spot. However, contrary to the visual communication, this area is transversable by units. I think I'm not the only one who is confused, as I observe many players circumventing/avoiding this spot with their raids.
Maybe the communication could be improved by making it a wind-blown snow hill texture instead? Or alternatively, make it a proper mountain.
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@xayo you will hopefully be happy to hear that after feedback from you, Morax, and the rest of the matchmaker team, I've changed the lighting and one of the textures on Frozen Firefight to better represent the pathability of the terrain.
